Sanitary urine collector

ABSTRACT

A FUNNEL FOR USE IN THE COLLECTION OF URINE SPECIMENS HAVING A SIDE WALL OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND TWO OPENINGS AT EITHER END AND A RIGID MEMBER COUPLED ABOUT ONE END TO HOLD THE OPENING IN AN OPEN POSITION AND TO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR A SEALING CAP.

141-337. AU 34? x a emcson 3,879,882

SMITH" URINE COLLECTOR Filed 1m. 12. 1968 llllllli INVENTOR RICHARD E. ERICSON BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,579,652 SANITARY URINE COLLECTOR Richard E. Ericson, Keene, N.H., asslgnor to Elliot Laboratories, Inc., Fitzwilllam, NJI. Filed Nov. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 774,696 Int. Cl. E0311 13/00 US. Cl. 4-110 27 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A funnel for use in the collection of urine specimens having a side wall of flexible material and two openings at either end and a rigid member coupled about one end to hold the opening in an open position and to provide a foundation for a sealing cap.

this invention is directed to a sanitary urine collector and more particularly to a urine collector or funnel suitublc for use in collecting urine specimens and/or for l r'l'ltllllll'lg a bedridden patient to void without the help of a hospital aide.

It is standard medical procedure to collect urine specimens for purposes of analysis. Most doctors or hospitals ptovide a narrow neck specimen container to the patient for such purpose. With the male, not too much difficulty is encountered in using the container, but the female has considerable difficuity.

Sometimes. the female will in voiding miss the small opening of the specimen container. Often the lip of the specimen container will become contaminated 'by contact with the area around the genitalia, as the female tries to insure that the urine enters the container. The contamination of the lip of the container often leads to contamination of the urine sample and may result in erroneous findrugsv In view of the above there has existed for many years, it. need for an improved urine collector. There was a articular need of a urine collector that could be used by a female without the resultant mess as in the pass and also one that would isolate the tip of the specimen container lIOITl the user.

This invention has provided means to meet the requirements noted above. In particular, there is provided a collector or funnel arrangement which may be connected to a container in a manner so as to isolate the tip of the container from contact with the body during usage. This invention also provides a funnel having a large target which facilitates the catching of urine in midstream at a substantial distance from the body without spillage on the hands to thereby minimize the dan er of the tip of the funnel coming into contact with the body and of the urine stream coming into contact with the top of the funnel before flowing into the container.

As an added feature, the funnel of this invention is inexpensive to construct, foldable into a small package and also may because of its cost be used as a disposable item.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved urine collector.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved inexpensive and disposable urine collection system.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved urine collector which facilitates the collection of urine without contaminating the lip of the container for storing the urine.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a new and improved urine collector which provides an excellent large target for the catching of urine in midstream at Patented May 25, 1971 "ice a substantial distance from the body without the usual spillage on the hands and to prevent contamination of the detachable specimen container.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

The invention is shown by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a container used with the collector of this invention. V

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 1 showing means for coupling the collector to a container.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view collector shown in FIG. 1 in a folded position.

FIG. 7 shows the collector according to this invention coupled by way of an attachment to one form of a bag.

FIG. 8 shows the collector according to this invention using a different type of attachment than shown in FIG 7 for connecting the collector to a different type of a bag Referring now to FIGS. 14 there is shown at 10 the urine collector according to this invention. The urine collector 10 is shown in this invention as coupled to a urme collecting container shown at 11 which may be a bottle or a plastic container which can be disposed of after use. The collector 10 is in the form of a collapsible funnel preferably constructed of a substantially flexible plastic material such as polyvinylchloride or the like havmg some stiffness so that it does not collapse upon itself and Wlll remain in its preset configuration having a taffeta finish on the interior walls thereof and preferably having a portion constructed of opaque material and another portron constructed of translucent material. The funnel is collector according the collector according to taken along line 44 of of the embodiment of the preferably constructed of two fiat panels 14 and 15 of plastic material one opaque, transparent or translucent (the term pellucid is used herein to include transparent or translucent) having substantially the same dimensions with the panels sealed together by the use of adhesive or by heat sealing along two of their marginal edges. One of the marginal edges is shown at 12 in FIG. 1 and the other marginal edge is shown at 13. The panels are of a shape such that a funnel will be formed preferably having a larger opening at the top thereof, shown at 16 and a smaller opening at the bottom thereof, shown at 17. The walls about the smaller opening 17 are preferably cone structed such that they are stretchable, so that they will snugly fit about the container 11 to hold it in place. A strip of adhesive can also be used to insure the connection of the container 11 to the funnel 10. Preferabl the maximum width of the small opening 17 in at least one direction or plane is less than the outside diameter of the container 11, such that the material will stretch over the container 11 to frictionally hold it in place. Coupled about the larger opening 16 there is provided a substantially rigid member 19 (i.e. cardboard, plastic or the like) to insure that the larger opening 16 will be held in an open position. In a preferred embodiment the rigid member 19 is coupled to the funnel walls 10 by folding a top portion of the panel walls 14 and 15 so that it passes through an opening of the rigid member, then over the top of the rigid member 19 and then down along the side of rigid member 19. It should be understood that the rigid member 19 could also be sealed to the wall panels 14 and 15. It should also be understood that more than two panels could be utilized to construct the funnel 10 according to this invention or can be made from a single piece. Also the member 19 may be integral with the panel wall and be molded at the same time as the panel wall. By the use of the rigid member 19 there is provided a large opening which facilitates the collection of urine in midstream at distance from the body. In addition the rigid member provides a foundation for a sealing cap shown at 20 to insure the sterility of the urine collection device. In FIG. 2, there is shown the container 11 which is provided with a cap shown at 22 for sealing the same after the collection of a urine specimen.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of the funnel construction shown in FIG. 1 and show the configuration of the funnel walls 14 and 15 with respect to the container and the rigid member. In FIG. 5 there is shown an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1 and in particular there is provided an attachment shown at 25 coupled to the walls 14 and 15 of the funnel about the smaller opening 17. The cap 25 has a central opening 26 therethrough for the passage of fluid and a threaded inner wall 27 so that the cap 25 may be screwed onto the container 11. It should also be understood that the cap may be constructed and be coupled to the container 11 frictionally.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown the funnel and container folded into a small package for shipment. Preferably the construction of the funnel and its rigid member is such that the walls 14 and 15 of the funnel may be folded and the container 11 placed between the interior confines of the rigid member 19 although the container may protrude above the rigid member in the vertical plane. The rigid member 19 may be constructed such that it can be distorted in the horizontal plane to accommodate the flexible walls of the funnel as well as the container 11. The container 11 as well as the walls 14 and 15 may also protrude slightly above or below the rigid member.

Reference should now be had to FIG. 7 which shows the use of funnel according to this invention with a plastic bag such as an enema bag or a urine collection bag or the like shown at 30. The urine collection bag 30 may be of the type shown in US. patent 3,306,327 issued to John C llg. The funnel 10 is connected to the bag by way of an attachment shown at 31. This attachment 31 can be constructed of plastic or the like which is adapted to frictionally fit over the spout 32 of the bag 30. The attachment 31 may if desired also be threaded so as to be screwable onto the spout 32. The attachment 31 may be of the type which is snugly attached or connected to the funnel 10 as was the container 11 or may be secured b way of an adhesive or may be heat sealed to the walls of the funnel 10. In FIG. 8 there is shown a further embodiment wherein there is provided a bag shown at 40 which may be of the type shown in US. patent application Ser. No. 669,- 183 now Pat. No. 3,478,743 and filed by the same inventor as in this application. The outlet of that bag comprises a flexible tube shown at 41 which may be connected by way of an adaptor shown at 42 to the funnel 10. The connector 42 may be in the nature of connector 31, but is provided with a narrow spout portion 43 having an opening therein and which may be inserted into the interior of the tube 41. The attachment 42 is preferably connected to the funnel in the manner described with reference to the attachment 31.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described it is to be understood that changes or variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A closed sterile disposable urine-collecting device for catching a sample of urine from a patient in mid-stream, said device comprising, in combination, a funnel of flexible material which is longitudinally and laterally collapsible by flexure thereof and which has a larger opening at one end thereof and a smaller opening at the other end, a member of substantially greater rigidity than said funnel coupled to the funnel about the larger opening thereof to stabilize the funnel and hold the larger opening open to provide a relatively large target to catch the urine emission in mid-stream at a substantially distance from the genitalia, a sealing cap removably secured on said member to close said larger opening, a urine collection container having a mouth, said smaller end of said funnel having means removably secured about said mouth to close the interior of said funnel and container, said interior defined by said cap, funnel and container being a sterile closed system.

2. A device according to claim 1, said means removably secured about said mouth extending over and around the outer periphery of the portion of the urine collection container forming said mouth to protect said mouthagainst contamination.

3. A device according to claim 2, said means removably secured about said mouth removably securing said smaller end of the funnel to said mouth, said sealing cap being removably secured over and around the upper edge of said member to protect said upper edge against contamination.

4. A device according to claim 2, said member being in the form of a circular ring and said smaller end of said funnel being located over and around said mouth and being removable from said mouth by sliding it longitudinally off from around said mouth.

5. A disposable device according to claim 4, said funnel between said member and said mouth being collapsible to within said member by flexure of same.

6. A device according to claim 1, said funnel having suflicient longitudinal collapsibility to permit said smaller opening and collecting container to be moved longitudinally to the plane of said larger opening by fiexure of said funnel and having sufiicient lateral and longitudinal collapsibility to permit the longitudinal axis of said container to be tilted in any direction from vertical to horizontal and to permit the collecting container to be moved longitudinally to the member with said longitudinal axis orientation anywhere between vertical and horizontal, all while the longitudinal axis of the member remains vertical and while said member and container are coupled to said funnel.

7. A device according to claim 6, said funnel having sufficient stiffness so that it will not collapse vertically upon itself without the application of an outside force.

8. A disposable device according to claim 1, said member being radially deformable and comprising cardboard.

9. A disposable device according to claim 1 said funnel being a water-proof, flexible, polyvinyl chloride plastic.

10. A disposable device according to claim 1, said member being deformable in a horizontal plane, said funnel and container being of such dimensions that the container may be placed end to end within the member while it and the member are coupled to said funnel.

11. A device according to claim 1, said mouth of said container being defined by a wall portion of said container, said wall portion having an external circumferential rib, the smaller end portion of said funnel being located over and around said mouth and rib and being urged against said rib, said rib providing means for removably securing a closure cap over said mouth when said funnel is removed from said container.

12. A device according to claim 11, said material of said funnel being stretchable and resilient and said lower end portion of said funnel being normally of smaller diameter than said mouth but being stretched over said wall portion of said container to urge said lower end portion into engagement with said rib.

13. A device according to claim 1, said means removably secured about said mouth comprising a cap of greater rigidity than said funnel and having an opening formed therein for the passage of urine from the funnel to the collection means, said cap being removably secured over and around said mouth to secure the funnel to the mouth and protect the mouth against contamination.

14. A device according to claim 1, said means removably secured about said mouth comprising the smaller end portion of said funnel, which extends downwardly over said mouth and around the outer periphery of the portion of the container for thing said mouth.

15. A urine collecting device for catching a sample of urine in mid-stream said device comprising, in combina tiou, a longitudinally and laterally collapsible funnel of flexible material with a larger upper opening at one end thereof and a smaller lower opening at the other end thereof, a member of substantially greater rigidity than said funnel coupled to the funnel about the larger opening to stabilize the funnel and hold the larger opening open to provide a relatively large target to catch the urine emission in mid-stream at. a substantial distance from the genitalia, said member being located around the outer periphery of the larger end portion of the funnel to provide a space between said member and said outer periphery which space is open at its bottom, said device al o including it Hi ine collection container having a mouth, said smaller end of said funnel being provided with means to removably secure said smaller end to said mouth, a scaling cap removably secured on said member to close said larger opening and the interior of said funnel and container.

16. A device according to claim said larger end portion of said funnel extending upwardly through the member to form said space and then being folded over the top of said member and downwardly around the outer periphery of said member to thereby close the top of said space.

17. A device according to claim 16, said member extending around said outer periphery to form an annular space between it and said outer periphery, which space is open at its bottom.

18, A device according to claim 16. said flexible funnel material being elastic and stretchable. said folded over part ol mid larger end portion being stretched over the outer pe iphery of said member to secure the member to lllc funnel 19 A tlLHsl according to claim 16. the rigidity of said toutzlincr being uibstuntiull grea er than said funnel, said iUvHLt smaller cud ot said funnel extending over and around said mouth to protect said mouth from contamination. the interior defined by said cap, funnel and container being a closed sterile system.

20. A device according to claim 16, said sealing cap being removably mounted over and around the upper edge of said member and said folded portion of said funnel over said member, the interior of. said cap, funnel and container being a closed sterile system.

21. A device according to claim 16, said funnel being sufficiently collapsible longitudinally by flexure of the funnel wall to bring said smaller opening within said larger opening and sufficiently collapsible and flexible longitudinally and laterally by flexure of the funnel to permit the lt'mgitudinal axis of said container to be tilted in any direction from vertical to horizontal and to permit said container to be moved longitudinally to the member with said longitudinal axis orientation anywhere between vertical and horizontal, all while the longitudinal axis of said member remains vertical and while said member and container are coupled to said funnel, the interior defined by said cap, funnel and container being a closed sterile system.

22. A device according to claim 21, said device having sufficient stiffness so that it will not collapse vertically upon itself without the application of an outside force.

23. A device according to claim 15, said member being (iii a cylindrical shaped cardboard ring, said space being an annular space between said ring and said periphery.

24. A device according to claim 15, said member being a cylindrical shaped cardboard ring, said space being an annular space between said ring and said periphery.

25. A device according to claim 15, the rigidity of said container being substantially greater than said funnel, said lower smaller end of said funnel extending over and around said mouth to protect said mouth from contamination, the interior defined by said cap, funnel and container being a closed sterile system.

26. A disposabdle urine-collecting device for catching a sample of urine from a patient in mid-stream, said device comprising, in combination, a longitudinally and laterally collapsible funnel of flexible, stretchable and resilient material with a larger opening at one end thereof and a smaller opening at the other end thereof, said funnel being longitudinally and laterally collapsible by fiexure of same, a ring of substantially greater rigidity than said funnel coupled to the funnel at the larger opening to stabilize the funnel and hold the larger opening open to provide a relatively large target to catch the urine emission in mid-stream at a substantial distance from the genitalia, said ring also providing a foundation for a sealing cap, a urine-collecting container coupled to the small opening of the funnel, said smaller end of said funnel being stretched over the mouth of said container to removably secure it to the container, the larger end of the funnel being stretched over said ring to removably secure it to the ring, a sealing cap removably secured over said ring to close the interior of said funnel and container, the interior defined by said cap, funnel and container being a closed sterile system.

27. A disposable urine-collecting device for catching a sample of urine from a patient in mid-stream, said device comprising, in combination, a longitudinally and laterally collapsible funnel of flexible material with a larger opening at one end thereof and a smaller opening at the other end, said funnel being longitudinally and laterally collapsible by flexure of same, a member of substantially greater rigidity than said funnel coupled to the funnel about the larger opening thereof to stabilize the funnel and hold the larger opening open to provide a relatively large target to catch the urine emission in mid-stream at a substantial distance from the genitalia, a sealing cap removably secured to said member over said larger opening to close said larger opening, a urine collection container removably coupled to the smaller opening of the funnel to close the interior of said funnel and container, said funnel being formed by a pair of layflat sheets of flexible, manipulatable and collapsible plastic, sealed along their edges, at least one of which is pellucid, the opposite sealed edges of each of said sheets being tapered toward each other to provide a funnel effect, said sealed edges being collapsible longitudinally and laterally, the interlior defined by said cap, funnel and container being steri e.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,581 12/1914 Flitcraft 141-337 1,740,418 12/1929 Donnelly 141-340 1,305,627 6/1919 Smith 141-337 1,733,261 10/1929 Higby et al 141-337 3,033,222 5/1962 Connolly 4-110 FOREIGN PATENTS 149,574 8/1920 Great Britain 141-337 ROBERT I. SMITH, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

